|
I am concerned about the proposed teacher salary cuts. We need to treat teachers better and we need to bring in more teachers. I doubt the Legislators are aware of the difficulties we would face if there is a cut in pay.
|
|
|
No matter what you consider for financial reduction, the education budget should not be touched. The kids in school now may not be able to go back at some future time and get an education. I do not have children but feel their education is not like my 401K where I can go back and build it up again after this financial disaster is over with. One of America’s mantras is that everyone has a right to an education. Do not take that away.
|
|
When signing up my son for high school classes, we were told that the Agriculture classes will probably be cut. These are classes on Animal and Plant sciences, Auto Tech, Welding, and programs such as Future Farmers of America. What is Nevada with students who don’t have access to Agriculture and FFA?
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Most, if not all, school districts in the state are expecting to have to reduce the number of teachers. Also, most of those teachers who will be laid off are new teachers, just starting their careers. They may not ever return to teaching, if the reductions continue and they find other jobs (not in education).
|
|
Read more...
|
|
I realize that as a state we are in some dire financial circumstances. However, I feel that it is imperative to fund education adequately. We are in a situation where teachers in all districts in the state are being cut, supply budgets cut, and severe shortfalls in operating budgets exist. I believe it is absolutely necessary to look seriously at this issue simply for the fact that without education, who is going to lead this state in the years to come?
|
|
|
To make schools work better, fire half the Administrators, cut the salaries of the remainder, and tell them to get lean and mean or they’ll be fired too! These people make hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries while teachers have to buy their own pencils and beg for donations for basic school supplies. The game is to educate the children; the Administrators have totally lost sight of that in the quest for their own comfortable retirements.
|
|
|
The state can easily eliminate funding for the following programs and not impact core education: 1. Driver's Education—if the parents want the kids to drive, let them pay for the classes through private organizations. 2. Athletics—Physical education is sufficient. 3. Yearbooks, Clubs, and Ancillary Programs—While they lead to some socialization, are they necessary to be able to perform basic algebra or understand how World War II fits into the grand scheme of things? 4. Textbooks—Why do they replace math texts every couple of years? Does math change that much that quickly? Would eliminating the textbook budget for 2 years really result in a lessened education?
|
|
|
State Education Superintendent |
|
Do we really need a state board of education? Why not have one superintendent that reports to the Governor and the Legislature and who spends most of the time working with the local school boards and their administrators?
|
|
As a concerned parent funding education is a top priority, not only for my family but for the future of Nevada. I implore you to give the money that is needed for education. Nevada must branch out with new and diverse job opportunities and to form those new jobs, funding education is needed. All programs, art, music, sports, reading, science, math, and writing need to be funded adequately. We need to educate our children so they can strengthen the Nevada economy. One way that we may be able to find funds is to impose a tax on junk food. Nevada has a high rate of obesity. Overweight problems cause health problems, which raise the cost of insurance and medical expenses. Nevada should lead the way and become active to help fight obesity by taxing junk food. In turn, the tax that we collect from junk food will help fund education.
|
|
|
As a registered voter, I would like legislators to remember that education is the foundation of our economy. Colleges already work hard to raise money by seeking grants in addition to government money. Higher education has already taken a tuition increase and not many people can afford another. We should be funding colleges more in times of desperation, not cutting their funding. Higher education is a long-term solution. No immediate effects may be seen, but higher education secures Nevada’s future and ensures Nevada will prosper. Limiting higher education will only increase the burden on lower-level jobs even longer and will delay the innovative research on behalf of Nevada’s colleges. Please do the right thing and consider that education, including K-12, has already taken its fair share of cuts.
|
|
This recession proves that a diversified economy is what Nevada needs to avoid the boom-and-bust cycles of relying on one industry, whether that is mining or tourism. Cutting education greatly reduces future economic expansion (including crucial diversification) by reducing the educated workforce Nevada needs to attract white-collar businesses to the state.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
As a taxpayer, I want my tax dollars to support education for U.S. citizens. We are the most generous nation in the world, and when we can, we always reach out a hand. But we can no longer spend money on English as a second language and educating non-citizens. Let us educate our own first, then, reach out later when our budgets are in better shape. I oppose any support for non-English speaking educational programs. English is the standard for our system. In this crisis, take care of our own first, or we won’t have any system left.
|
|
|
I’ve been a teacher for almost 25 years. I went into education because I wanted to make a difference in children’s lives-not because I wanted to make a lot of money. The proposed cuts for state employees and education in particular are going to have a huge impact not only on the lives of the dedicated people who work with children every day, but also on the lives of the children who depend on us to be there for them each and every day to help them achieve their dreams. I realize that with the economy in the state it’s in, we all have to make some concessions and sacrifices, but can we really afford to sacrifice the students, who are our future?
|
|
|
No Education budget cuts! I currently attend college and my major is secondary education. I can hardly afford to pay for college now and I know tuition will skyrocket if you cut the education budget. I’m also worried about having a job when I get out of college. They are not hiring the much needed teachers right now. It is a HUGE mistake to cut education. You are cutting out the future of Nevada.
|
|
|
If we were to have a State Lottery here in Nevada and funnel all of the proceeds into education, state of the art schools, teacher salaries, new facilities, vocational schools that could put people to work right here in Nevada, it will be a win win situation for all.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
I understand we are in a crisis situation with the State budget, however, cutting core funding to the higher education system, is not the solution. The consequences these cuts will put in motion will be devastating to the State. Not only will thousands lose their jobs, but thousands more will be forced to pursue education in other states. We will be faced with a populace that is reliant on the system for unemployment and health benefits and crime will increase as more and more people will become desperate.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
No Cuts to Elective Courses |
|
Nevada is already at the bottom of all the states in regards to the amount of money spent per child on education. Please do not make the situation any worse. Cutting education is not the answer to your budget woes. Cuts in elective classes result in higher drop out rates and those drop outs then become a “drain” on the budget in other ways. Education MUST be a priority for this State and the country as a whole. This is our future and we must protect it!
|
|
Please use a combination of tax increases, reasonable tuition increases, federal money from the stimulus package, and other creative solutions to save our higher education institutions. As a state, we can no longer rely on gaming institutions to sustain our prosperity; instead, we must look to other opportunities. An educated workforce is one of the most important ways through which Nevada can attract businesses–and in particular, businesses that are poised for success in a knowledge-based economy. The majority of students who go to colleges and universities in Nevada will stay and work in Nevada, but if there are no opportunities here, they will go elsewhere for education and work.
|
|
|
We are already extremely low in per pupil funding, lower than almost every other state in the union. It is appalling also that we are proposing increasing class sizes; that means most teachers will start with at least 40 students per class in high school; this is far too large. It further concerns me that we are proposing slashing more funds from an already cash strapped system. We are doing our community and the future of our community and nation a disservice by valuing education so little.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Please change eligibility requirements for the Millennium Scholarship Program to award students with the best grades and greatest financial needs. We need to support academically-prepared students who are committed to working in the health sciences professions, such as nursing and pre-med, where there is a great need in our state. We should also give priority to students who can contribute to future renewable energy professions in Nevada, such as solar, wind, or geothermal engineers and technicians. As an educator, I urge program administrators to stop wasting these awards on kids who are not academically prepared especially in today’s dire economic, energy, and environmental crisis. Please focus this program on educating individuals who can contribute to Nevada’s future.
|
|
|
Nevada State College should be closed. This state is not large enough for three different systems of higher education (university, college, and community college). Nevada State was created for purely political reasons. They have not reached the goals that were set for them upon opening, such as raising money or number of students enrolled. Nevada State’s nursing program in particular has a national certification pass rate far below any of the other entities in the state. Some legislators stated that closing the college would be a blow to the Nevada System of Higher Education system. But, the money allocated to NSC would be better used by the existing established institutions.
|
|
|
I urge you to find budget solutions that do not gut the Nevada System of Higher Education. Any budget that increases money for sports, and cuts money for education is unconscionable. These proposed cuts are especially disheartening when the NSHE has struggled so hard to educate our best and brightest and keep them in Nevada. Please make education funding a priority.
|
|
|
Busing at University of Nevada at Reno |
|
As a UNR student, I am disgusted by the amount of money that is wasted every day of the semester driving buses the length of campus so that students don’t have to walk less than a mile. The system wastes money, pollutes the air, discourages exercise, and most importantly, achieves nothing while wasting valuable resources. The resources used are not trivial. They run all day, consume lots of fuel and serve no legitimate purpose. I highly suggest eliminating the bus system, except in dusk and evening when there is a viable safety concern.
|
|
|
Nevada is already in 50th place when it comes to funding education. Our teachers are one of the lowest paid in the nation. Finding highly qualified teachers to meet the No Child Left Behind federal requirement is already very, very hard. The suggestion to cut funding either in salaries or per student funding will just cause Nevada students to fall even more behind and good teachers to leave the state.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
I am in 8th grade and am very concerned about the budget cuts proposed by Governor Gibbons. I have not talked to anyone at school, soccer practice, church, or anywhere else that thinks education and teachers should take any more cuts.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Austin Texas Education System |
|
"Possibly review how Austin, Texas education system works. It is an excellent system. This caller is a long time Nevada resident who recently returned from Austin and has grandchildren in their schools and thinks that Nevada should consider a similar system."
|
|
|
"Good morning, I have to say that our school is in an uproar. We are all worried about our jobs and the new suggestion of the 6% cut of our pay. We are already one of the lowest paid states and can hardly make it by to begin with. Our classes are huge and we do everything to keep them involved and coming back. As a teacher I just don't know what else to do. Do I need to get a second job to pay my bills and keep my family fed? I heard that CA was talking about cutting the school year by 5 days to save $1.1 billion. I almost agree with that. I know that means less money for teachers and other staff but at least its not 6%. I'm just really confused by everything that is going on and hate to say it but maybe some of the cuts should be done at a higher level. Like our governor. Thanks for reading and any information would be great."
|
|
|
Salary Reductions Proposal |
|
"We all know the economy is making a crater-sized impact on everyone, but when we hear the Governor is preparing to present a budget to the legislature with a 6% pay cut for educators, the impact on our students and society will be harmful. Most of our new teachers cannot even afford to live on their own now. PLEASE FIND OTHER WAYS TO CUT THE FAT, AND LEAVE OUR SALARIES ALONE. We educators are the backbone of society, yet our state is at the bottom when it comes to education. Where would you and our entire society be if it weren't for the thousands of educators sacrificing ourselves and our families for the good of us all? I trust that you will vote in our favor."
|
|
|
Capping Professor's Salaries |
|
"Do not continue to pay merit increases each year for the salaries for the faculty at NSHE with NO cap. We continually raise tuition for the students to pay for higher education without ever reducing the cost of the professor's salaries. Also, place a cap on ALL public servant's merit increases, including politicians. Also, how about raising registration fees for vehicles that aren't fuel efficient. If they can afford the gas, they can pay higher taxes."
|
|
|
Adult HIgh School Diploma |
|
"In the course of looking for another piece of information, I came across the "Distributive School Account - Summary for 2007 - 09 Biennium" included in the '07 Appropriations Report. The "Adult High School Diploma" program was estimated to cost nearly $22 Million in FY2007. In contrast, Gifted & Talented Programs for children was slated to cost only $171,000. This is outrageous, in my opinion. A child has only one chance to partake in gifted/talented programs (something I had the opportunity to take part in as a 2nd-8th grader in Ohio and I can't speak highly enough about how much of an impact it had on me) during their formative years. It is pathetic to me that funding for these programs for THE ENTIRE STATE is only $171K. In contrast, while admirable, someone who has entered an Adult High School Diploma program already had their chance, and decided not to take advantage of their free K-12 education. I wonder if this program were turned into a pay-for-service if it wouldn't make people think twice about not completing high school in the first place. Regardless, unless it's mandated in the constitution, I don't understand why the state would put so much money into such a program. How many adults are in the program, anyhow? $22 Million seems like a quite large amount of money for such a program. I do not work in education and do not have kids, so I admit I might not fully understand the way both programs work in Nevada. However, at first glance, it appears there is a huge sum of money going to pay for a service for people that have already had a chance to take advantage of. If someone is motivated enough to get their GED (for example, if they need it to get an associates degree) they are probably motivated enough to find a way to pay for it. Maybe start a loan program and consider it part of their higher education? As a citizen, I think another look at the funding for adult high school should be considered."
|
|
